In 1947 a valiant attempt was made in Sanford to erect a free municipal pool for the community. This was to be located at what is known as Gowen Park on Main Street.

Drownings have plagued Sanford throughout history. In 1945 another close call with a local child prompted an article to be released in the paper. The writer highlighted these accidents and explained how they could be lessened if the community worked out a plan to make a public pool possible, calling for perhaps the right underwriter. Lifeguards and a cleaner environment would surely be beneficial to a growing community!

During this time the municipality was quite busy working on the War Memorial building project and a sewage disposal plant so this caused some push back and helped bump the pool as a priority.

In 1946 slowly the project gained support from people including Interested private citizen, Wallace Reid, and forwarded subsequently by Local 1802, UTWA, Thomas W Cole Post, American Legion, A,P of L, the Rev John J. McGinnis Council and the Rev Georges Poirier Council, Knights of Columbus, CIO and others. Employees of Goodall-Sanford, Inc., upon collaboration with Universal and Allied Shoe Corporations, had nearly 300 employees pledge funds for the project during a drive in early 1947.

Again in 1947 another call to action was released in the local paper asking for donations and included a cut out pledge form for readers to send in. The ad reads as follows:

"Below is a facsimile of the pledge card being distributed to employees of Goodall-Sanford, Inc., the Universal and Allied Shoe Corporations, Sanford-Springvale business and professional men and women, and their employees, in connection with a Citizens’ Committee project to raise $50,000 to build a public, outdoor swimming pool in Gowen Park, under the official sponsorship of Thomas W. Cole Post, American Legion.

It is printed with the thought that prospective contributors including former local' residents who now are making their homes temporarily or permanently elsewhere, and others who will not be reached directly in local industry, may wish to use it."

In late January of 1947 it was announced that the project had died.

The writer cites snowballed disagreements and selfishness as the final nail in the coffin for the abandonment of the Citizens' Committee of the public swimming pool project.

The opposition was relentless in thinking the project "would not be in the best interest of the public" regardless of countless supporters not only in favor of the pool but guided by willing donors.

This decision created tensions as it seemed to prove that even with the best collective interests of the community in favor of its citizens, all good efforts would still ultimately be thwarted at the hand of the opposition. Selfishness isn't a good look for any growing community.

Many locals were vocal about their disappointment when the project fell apart including Pvt Donald Holdsworth who at the time

was stationed at a U.S. Army post at Seoul, Korea who sent a letter to the paper to say:

"I received the first Tribune today since I've been over here. I was sorry to read about the towns not being able to raise enough money for that swimming pool. I felt badly when I realized the home folks weren't big enough to give a little for community betterment. I would gladly send home $7 of my paycheck and I think "Chubby" and "Sharko” would do likewise.

Some of the fellows in the company read the paper and

thought that I must live in a very selfish town. They told me

about the modern facilities for sports and recreation they have

at home, built through public subscription of funds, and I didn't

tell them we didn't have a high school gym or they would have

really thought I lived in the sticks."

"(In mentioning "Chubby and "Sharko", Holdsworth was referring to two Sanford High classmates. Robert Turmelle and Emile Roberge respectively. Both three-sports’ lettermen, who also are in the Army stationed in the Orient.)"

- Corey Light WCXY

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